Ole Miss will be looking for a left tackle to protect quarterback Jevan Snead's blind side after this season, and a former Texas signee may be a major candidate to replace Oher.

Corsicana (TX) Navarro J.C.left tackle Roy Watts signed with Texas in 2006, but is now entering his second season at Navarro and may be able to sign in December and enroll next January.

One thing that won't hurt the Rebels' chances with Watts is two friends and former teammates on the current Rebel squad.

Watts and Snead were true freshmen teammates in 2006 at Texas and current Ole Miss tight end Gerald Harris and Watts were teammates last season at Navarro.

"Knowing Jevan and Gerald, that will help," Watts said Sunday evening. "I'm shy at times and they are both outgoing and sharp guys. They would definitely be a big plus in helping me around and learning a new environment."

Watts, now a 6-foot-6, 300 pound prospect with 5.2 speed in the 40-yard dash, left Texas for the same reason as did Snead.

"I wasn't getting any playing time and I didn't see much of a chance of getting one," said Watts, who was rated a three-star prospect coming out of high school."

While Ole Miss has already offered, along with Arkansas and Houston, Rebel offensive line coach will get a first hand look at Watts this week.

"I've had a conversation with coach Markuson," Watts said. "It was just on the phone, but he sounds like a real nice guy. We're in spring practice and he's coming out this week. Our spring game is Saturday."

After redshirting at Texas, Watts started every game for his Navarro team last fall.

"We weren't even ranked headed into the season, but ended up at No.4 in the country," Watts said. "We have a lot of talent returning and our goal is to win the national championship."

Watts said he's currently just looking at the schools that are showing interest and is in no hurry to make a decision.

"I probably won't go back to Texas," he said. "They may be the best of all out there, but I want to see some new places and then just on on visits and then discuss what's best for me with my family."

The visits will definitely include a trip to Oxford.

"I don't know too much about Ole Miss," Watts said. "Since I got the offer two or three weeks ago, I've been trying to learn more about Ole Miss. From the pople I talk with, it seems like it's a cool place. I'm going to try to visit there on an unofficial visit in May."

Watts, who played a Worthing High School in Houston, was a four-time all-district (22-4A) performer. He earned second-team all-state honors from the Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior in 2005 and was named first-team district 22-4A that season. He was also was a four-year letterman in basketball and averaged a double-double during his senior season and was consistent member of the Honor Roll.

Watts says he's in a position where he will graduate in December, meaning he could enroll in college next spring and go through spring practice.

He will have two years to complete two years of eligibility after he finish junior college this fall.